Nursing-vest.



G. B. SMITH.

NURSING VEST.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1?. 1914.

1" I G; I

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

PATE T OFFICE.

' G OODW IN IB. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIQ.

NURSING-VEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,665.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gooowm B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residmg at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State .of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n N ursing-Vests; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will *enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in nursing vests and similar articles of apparel.

In carrying out my invention it is my purpose to provide a vest of this character adapted to be worn by nursing mothers, and which in addition to facilitating the nursing operation is designed also to perform the functions of a bust or breast support. Another object of the invention is the provision of a nursing vest which may be conveniently and comfortably worn beneath the ordinary shirt waist or other upper garment, and which when desired may be readily manipulated to permit nursing.

I also propose to provide a vest of this type which is made of such material and so constructed that the mothers garments are protected during the nursing operation, as well as between the times of nursing, so that the rapid destruction of such garments due to soiling is avoided and the cost of replacing the ruined clothing is obviated.

Further it is my intention to provide a nursing vest having bust openings therein which are adapted to be closed by shields or flaps, these shields or flaps having pockets desi ed to removably receive suitable pads or pieces of absorbent material for the purpose of absorbing any moisture or fluid which may drop thereon. Furthermore I propose to provide a nurs' ing vest which will also perform the functions of a bust supporter to hold the breasts in the natural position, thereby conducing to the comfort and appearance of the person.

With the above recited objects or others of a similar nature inview, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein set forth and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View of a combined nursing vest -and bust supporter embodying my inventlon, one of theflaps or shields of the vest being shown as partially open to illustrate .the arrangement of the pocket for receiv ng the absorbent pad. Fig. 2 is a view 1n front elevation of the vest, both shields and flaps belng shown in closed position and covering-the bust openings. Fig. 3 is a rear or back view of the vest shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 2. In the present instance I have shown my lnvention as embodied in a nursing vest of a particular and preferred form, although I wish it to be understood that it is not limited 1n its application to this specific form of article as certain features thereof may be advantageously employed in connection with other types of garments or articles of Iylearing apparel, such as waists and the Before entering into the detail description of my invention I will briefly state that-in 1ts preferred form it embraces among other features a front -.body portion or section preferably of water proof fabric, having a pair'of spaced bust or breast openings therein, the material of the body section above each breast opening having a piece of elastic webbing inserted for the purpose of allowing the upper portion of the vest to adjust itself to the wearer. The material of the body section below each opening is cutaway to form short vertical slits which communicate with the breast or bust openings and terminate at substantially the bottom edge or binding of the body section, these webs and slits insuring the ready adjustment of the vest when it is desired to nurse the infant.

Stitched to the bottom edge of the body section at the front thereof are flaps or shields adapted to coverthe breast or bust openings, these shields or flaps being fastened in their closed position over the openings by means of snap fasteners or other suitable devices. Each of these flaps or shields is also preferably formed of water proof material, and each flap has attached to its inner face at the edges a short piece of gauze or net fabric, the upper edge of the fabric being separated from the upper edge of the flap or shield to form a pocket which is adapted to receive a ad of absorbent material. To one end of the body section is attached an elastic band, While the free en the nursing operation.

of the band is adapted to be connected to the opposite end of the body section by a balland socket fastener or other device, the elastic band passing around the back of the wearer and securing the garment 1n POSI- tion.

Referring now to the accompany1ngdrawings in detail the letter A designates the body section of the vest which also forms the front of the latter, this body section being preferably composed of a light, thin waterproof fabric. This section A s provided with the bust or breast openings 1, suitably spaced apart by the interven ng web 2. The material of the body section below each opening is slitted, as at 3, these slits extending from the opening to the bottom edge of the body section. Likewise above each breast opening the material is cut-away, as at 4, for the insertionof short connecting webs 5 of elastic material, these elastic webs and the bottom slits 3 permitting the vest to readily accommodate itself to the breast of the wearer especially during The bottom edge of the body section is provided with a binding strip 6, while the top edge has a similar binding strip 7 Likewise each breast opening 1 is edged with a binding strip 8, while .the bottom slits 3 are edged with short binding strips 9, and the elastic webs 5 are edged with short binding strlps 10. A l

socket members 14 of this ball and socket fastener being attached to the opposite end 15 of the body section of the vest. It will be of course understood that any suitable means may be employed for securing the ends of the'body section in order to fasten the vest upon the wearer.

Secured to the lower edge of the body section A, as at 16, are the shields or flaps 17, which are intended to cover the breast openings, and as the shields and flaps are counter-parts, a description of one will sufiice for both. These shields or flaps are secured to the body section at their lower or bottom edges by stitching or otherwise so that they may be opened outward and downward during the nursing operation. Such shields or flaps are preferably formed of the same fabric 18, the edge binding 19 of the flap or shield being stitched over the edges of both flaps or shields and the piece of net fabric.

The latter is attached or stitchedat itsside and lower edges, but is unattached at its upper edge 20 so that a pocket 21 is formed cured to the body section A adjacent the top edge thereof.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the construction and manner of using my invention will be readily apparent. The vest is secured in position on the wearer by means of i An elastic back strap, and the shields or flaps are closed as shown in Fig. 2 and overlie and cover the breasts, the pad of absorbent material having been placed in the pockets 21 of these flaps or shields.

When it is desired to nurse the infant one of the flaps is opened either partially or entirely and thrown outward and down- Ward. This brings the gauze or net side of the back uppermost and the infant is then placed in position for nursing. Any moisture resulting from nursing will fall upon the gauze or net side and pass through the interstices thereof and be absorbed by the pad in the pocket. At the same time the flap will act as a protector for the other body garments which the mother may be wearing. Any time one pad has been soiled it may be readily removed from the pocket and another pad substituted.

It will be noted that the entire vest is so constructed that it will fit snugly in position and may be worn without discomfort or inconvenience at all times. When the flaps are closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the vest forms a supporter for the breasts, retaining the same in the natural position adding to the appearance of the person and in fact fulfills.

and as the pockets may be opened outward and downward the absorbent pad may be readily removed and the entire device washed in the manner of an ordinary garment. Furthermore the body section and the flap being made of water proof fabric will prevent perspiration and moisture from soiling the shirt waist or other upper garment.

While I have herein shown and described one particular embodiment of my invention,

I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to all of the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration, as modificaping portions of the tion and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a body section having two spaced openings located entirely within and surrounded by the material constituting the body section and means for fastening the body'section on the wearer, of

flaps permanently attached at their lower.-

edges to the body section below the openings, eachflap being adapted to be folded downward to expose the adjacent opening and to be folded up over the opening to close the latter, and means for detachably fastening theflaps to the body section at points above the lower edges of the flaps to detachabl secure such flaps in closed position.

2. In an article of the class described, the combination with a body section having two spaced openings therein and means for fastening the body section on the wearer, of elastic strips inserted in the body section between the top portions of the openings and the top edge of the body section and flaps for the openings attached at their lower edge portions to the body section below the openings and adapted to be folded down to expose the openings and to be folded up over the openings to close the latter, and means for fastening the flaps intheir closed position.

3. The combination with a body section having two separate bust openings therein and a web between the openings,

of a flap for each opening secured to the body section, the adjacent edges of the flaps being adapted when in closed position to overlap and to overlie the Web between the openings, means for fastening together the overlapflaps, and means for fastening the flaps in their closed positions.

4. The combination with a body section having two relatively large spaced breast openings therein adapted to accommodate the breasts of the wearer and means for fastening the body section upon the wearer, of a -flap for each opening attached to the body an elastic strip inserted in the body section between the top of each opening and the top edge of the body section, the material of the body section between the bottom of each bust opening and the lower ed 'e of the body section being slitted, flaps or the bust openmg permanently attached at their lower edges to the body each flap being the adjacent piece of fabric adapted to be folded up over pocket in conjunction means for securing the wearer.

with the flap, and body section on the section below the openings,

opening to close the latter, a

attached to the inner side of each flap and forming a pad receiving 6. The combination with a bodysection having bust openings therein,"the material of the body section above each bust opening including a section of elastic webbing, the material of the body section below each opening being slitted, with the slits communicating with the opening, a'flap for each bust opening attached at its to the lower portion of the body section and lower portion adapted when closed to cover the adjacent bust opening, a piece of 'net material attached to each flap,and lying adjacent. the

inner side of the flap to form. a pad receivg pocket, and means for securin'g'the body section on the wearer.

In testimony ture, in the presence of two witness V eoonwIN sm'rn. Witnesses: V"

ANNA T. RYAN, TnoMAs RAnBn'r.

whereof, I affi'x my a 

